Durham's Fallen Angel Hotel

Just a few yards up from the little bench/Dun Cow is Durham's recently opened Fallen Angel Hotel. Created and owned by entrepreneur John Marshall, who founded the Durham Pine furniture chain, the Fallen Angel is an imaginative and unusual place.

John Marshall calls it a Restaurant with Rooms, and says in the brochure that it is really a reflection of his life.

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I recently visited and had a wonderful evening of exquisite food and a tour of the amazing rooms.

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John writes, 'The rooms are a journey of fantasy and adventure and reflect my feeling that people should give themselves permission to live their dreams, to think big and to be outrageous.'

I have posted photos of some of my favourite rooms. Above and below is the luxurious Edwardian Express room. The ingenious ensuite bathroom is in a constructed railway carriage!

Another sumptious room is the Cruella. Lavishly decorated with black velvet and diamante is has quite a Gothic feel.

For a complete contrast, the Russian Bride suite is light and airy, in tranquil whites and creams.

Taking up the entire top floor, it has a hand carved bed, and a beautiful sitting room area.

I like the serene views from the windows.

The next room I visited was a real surprise ...

The Sci Fi room - complete with Dalek!

Visit the ensuite, and you might open the door and find yourself in another world!

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I love the imaginative quality of this hotel, and admire John Marshall for creating it. I'm inspired by the statement he has written in his brochure, 'Be bold, be brave and give yourself permission to break free from convention.'

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You can see more of the hotel at http://www.fallenangelhotel.com/
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Other great places to visit in Durham: the beautiful gardens of Crook Hall, and for delicious food prepared on the premises, click here for favourite Italian restaurant Ristorante San Marco.

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To see more of North East Artist & Entertainer Ingrid Sylvestre's work please visit Ingrid Sylvestre Art, where you will find her paintings, illustrations, live event caricatures and silhouettes cutting including wedding entertainment ideas, party entertainment and corporate events entertainment throughout the North East UK.

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Ingrid Sylvestre - Durham Artist Ingrid Sylvestre Durham artist, artist in Durham.

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 Durham's Fallen Angel Hotel photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK

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Further along the North Bailey - a tour of Ristorante San Marco, my best favourite of restaurants in Durham City!

After admiring the views of Durham Cathedral and River from the benches we have visited, you may well be hungry!
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A little further along the North Bailey from the previous bench you will find our favourite Durham restaurant - Ristorante San Marco.


Owner restaurateur Emidio (pictured on the left, with waiter Franco on the right), offers a warm welcome to the many local people and tourists who frequent San Marco. A popular Italian restaurant with local people, students and tourists, word of mouth brings customers back again and again!

A small friendly restaurant, the tables are close enough for ambience, yet spaced apart enough for privacy. The upholstered seats are comfortable, (very important after all those hard benches!), the wines are good, and the food - absolutely superb!

There is a glorious range of starters. My ultimate favourites are the homemade soups, most especially the mushroom - the best I've ever tasted! Other delicious starters are the Antipasto All'Italiana and the Caprese Salad. Oh - and the bread is home-made and out-of-this-world!

The main courses are mouth-watering, ranging from pastas and pizzas to chicken, seafood and steak. I adore the Pollo Valdostana, (tomato, cheese and asparagus), the Fettuccine Diavola and the Pollo San Marco (Cream, Tomato, Dijon Mustard with King Prawns finished with Brandy).

Chef Paul is a genius! You can catch glimpses of him deftly creating his masterpieces through the kitchen door, which is always open. Pizza-chef David makes pizza just as it should be - with plenty of topping!

Before we make our way to the door, would you like to hear about the sweets? Or is that too cruelly tempting? Oh - alright ... there's manager Tom's homemade Tiramisu - (melt-in-the-mouth luxury), homemade Creme Caramel with it's subtlety of flavour, and exquisite homemade Bread-and-butter Pudding, plus many more delights!

Now thoroughly revitalized for another stroll, you can return along the winding old street to the River, or head down Saddler Street to the historic centre of Durham ...

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Ingrid Sylvestre - Durham Artist

Durham artist Ingrid Sylvestre, artists in Durham City.